Show Review and Photos: Mudhoney with Girl Trouble @ Olympia Film Society

Posted on 11/09/2014 by BBS

Mudhoney with Girl Trouble @ Olympia Film Society, 11/7/14
Show Review & Photos by John Rudolph

Mudhoney

Two of the most enduring Northwest bands, Mudhoney and Girl Trouble played to a packed house at the vintage Olympia Theater and Olympia Film Society on Friday night. In many ways, the show was a reunion. The Olympia Film Society celebrated 31 years of the Olympia Film Festival and Mudhoney and Girl Trouble played the Film Society like they did 25+ years ago.

My oldest friend, John Nelson and I reunited after a 25 year hiatus and we enjoyed the trip down memory lane. John and I reminisced about growing up in England together and about the fun times we had until we lost touch 25 years ago. Mark Arm, lead singer of Mudhoney, reminisced about his past as a musician and his long relationship with the members of Girl Trouble.

As it turns out, Arm and I attended the very first Girl Trouble show at Ft. Steilacoom Community College Battle of The Bands in 1983. The young Mudhoney and Girl Trouble fans may say the same thing 30 years from now.

The crowd was rowdy, the bands were raucous, and the setting couldn’t have been better. It was very much an old-school punk show. I started my coverage of the show from the front against the stage. Once the mosh pit started I knew it was time for this older, beat-up body to move to the balcony. The crowd was in full contact from the first note of Girl Trouble to the last note from Mudhoney.

Both of these bands rocked it out hard. In addition to the requisite moshing from the crowd, a younger, female fan jumped on stage and danced like a go-go dancer. Girl Trouble’s Kurt Kendall removed his shirt, showing no shame, and all was right with the world again. All in all, it was a very successful reunion and a great concert.

Girl Trouble

Show Review & Photos: Kasabian @ Showbox at the Market

Posted on 11/08/2014 by Dagmar

Kasabian @ Showbox at the Market, 10/4/14
Show Review & Photos by Dagmar

Kasabian‘s Tom Meighan

The consistently awesome Kasabian smashed up Showbox at the Market on October 4th. The Leicester, England quartet has five albums to date; each one is excellent and proof of a magical band. I’ve been a fan of this group since 2004, and I’ve seen them several times, including their first show in Seattle, which was at Neumos in, I believe, ’04. How I wish I could have known of them during their earlier, formative years in the late ’90s. They’re one of the few bands that I can remember the first time hearing them, and seeing them. Their song “Club Foot,” and the accompanying video stood out as something cool, moody and unique.

That they have maintained a Kasabian sound while trying new things – new album 48:13 emphasizes a tiny bit more pronounced techno side – and never coming off as contrived, is proof that, ten years after their American debut, their presence is strong. I think, as with other Kasabian shows I have reviewed, when I went to select song highlights, I realized I was covering the entire setlist. That’s how good Kasabian is.

Sergio Pizzorno of Kasabian

Starting the show with 48:13‘s “bumblebee,” which created a sonic scene with fans jumping up and down, making that Showbox floor shake, Kasabian powered through a rocking and electronic set. As with Oasis front man Liam Gallagher, all singer Tom Meighan would ever need to do, with such a presence and sexy talent, is stand and assess the audience. Whether we were found wanting, who can say, but was he ever so cool and has he ever sounded so great? I’m not saying he only stands around – not at all – though, at times guitarist/singer Sergio Pizzorno might generally be the traditionally wilder of the two onstage; racy while playing guitar on his back, dancing while “ee-zeh” romped along, and jumping around during “treat.” About “treat”: That is an especially super song live. It’s got a real momentum to it, and worked perfectly on a setlist with West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum‘s “Vlad the Impaler.” The smashing combo of lyrics Work it like a treat, and get loose in those two songs fueled the sold-out crowd.

Pizzorno got the focus with “bow,” a song that beautifully utilized his very ’60s vocals. “Empire” and “Fire” were excellent build-ups to an encore that included “Switchblade Smiles” (a song in which Pizzorno and Meighan duet) and a cover of Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You,” leading into “L.S.F.”. I wouldn’t have thought to pair “Praise You” and “L.S.F.,” but there they were, connecting extremely well.

Thank you, Kasabian, for existing. Your music and performances have meaning.

Kasabian‘s Chris Edwards

Kasabian

Setlist:

“bumblebee” (48:13)
“Shoot the Runner” (Empire)
“Underdog” (West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum)
“stevie” (48:13)
“Days Are Forgotten” (Velociraptor!)
“eez-eh” (48:13)
“Processed Beats” (Kasabian)
“bow” (48:13)
“Club Foot” (Kasabian)
“Re-Wired” (Velociraptor!)
“treat” (48:13)
“Empire” (Empire)
“Fire” (West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum)

“Switchblade Smiles” (Velociraptor!)
“Vlad the Impaler” (West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum)
“Praise You” (Fatboy Slim cover) leading into:
“L.S.F.” (Kasabian)

More Photos of Kasabian @ Showbox at the Market

Show Review & Photos: Mary Black with Róisín O @ Benaroya Hall

Posted on 11/07/2014 by BBS

Mary Black with Róisín O @ Benaroya Hall, 11/4/14
Show Review & Photos by John Rudolph

Mary Black

Mary Black, longtime Irish singer/-songwriter, performed at Benaroya Hall on November 4th to a packed house. Mary is a wonderful talent who has earned her illustrious reputation with heartfelt lyrics and an angelic voice. She was every bit as good as the audience expected.

To me, this show seemed like a Passing-of-the-torch for Mary. Róisín O, the daughter of Mary Black opened the show. Roisin didn’t mention the fact but Mary did. The audience could see the pride in Mary’s eyes as she introduced Roisin. Roisin’s voice and style are like Mary’s just 30 years later. They are their own performers but Róisín O has that same angelic voice as her mother.

Róisín O

Mary and Róisín performed the encore together singing “As I Leave Behind Neidin” and “Summer Sent.” Mary sang “Song Of Ireland” and “Heaven Help Us All” alone.

Mary has finished touring but she said that she will still be creating music in the future. She said she has toured enough in her 30+ year career. I would say that she has earned a break.

Mary Black & Róisín O

Photos: Bean @ the Neptune Theatre

Posted on 11/04/2014 by Kirk

Noelle Bean – who simply goes by Bean – played at the Neptune Theatre last week as part of the iHeart Radio On The Rise Tour. Accompanied by a DJ, Bean played guitar on several songs and had a lot of interaction with the audience. She wrapped up her set with “Rollercoaster,” the single off her new EP with the same name. Colette Carr also performed with dancers Nicole Russo and Monica Douglas.

Bean

Colette Carr

Bumbershoot – Day 1 w/ the Lonely Forest

Posted on 10/29/2014 by BBS

Bumbershoot – Day 1 w/ the Lonely Forest
Show Review by Abby Williamson
Photos by Simon Krane, Kirk Stauffer & Abby Williamson

The Lonely Forest‘s John Van Deusen – photo by Abby Williamson

This whole story may sound like déjà vu, and that’s because it is.

I thought the last time I was going to see the Lonely Forest was at the Sasquatch Festival back in May, but then I was able to go to Bumbershoot too. So my cryfest at Sasquatch was a bit unfounded, but I’m glad I was there for the band’s last show.

The Lonely Forest have been a mainstay at Bumbershoot over the years, so it’s fitting that their last show was on the lawn in the Seattle Center, surrounded by their peers in the music scene, families, and fans – like me – that have been with them for a long time.

The Lonely Forest – photo by Simon Krane

Amidst the sincere and emotional banter that John, Tony, Eric, and Braydn shared, they went out with nothing less than a bang. Playing new hits, old favorites, and everything Seattle has grown to love over the last nine years. The crowd howled along to “Coyote,” wailed on “Two Pink Pills,” a song about Benadryl, and carried both Tony and John through some epic crowd surfing.

For being a 3 p.m. set, they made it seem to go all night, all while feeling painfully short. I – as well as the crying fans in the front row – didn’t want it to end. They closed the set with “We Sing In Time,” the song we all think of when we think of the Lonely Forest. I – for one – thank those guys for letting the photographers stay in the pit the whole time. So many of us shared the same feelings with the people in the front row that we didn’t want to miss any of it. I know for a fact that I wasn’t the only one crying. You know who you are. The Lonely Forest was the first show I photographed five years ago, and I was able to be there for their last show. Perfect, isn’t it?

~~~~~~

I’ve been listening through the Lonely Forest’s catalogue over the last few weeks and I noticed something so brilliantly poignant and coincidental that it gave me monster chills when I heard it. The last album, Adding Up The Wasted Hours is not only an amalgamation of the band’s last nine years, but it’s also a goodbye, even if they didn’t know it when they recorded it. So I hope that I can speak for everyone in the crowd that day, and the crowds over the years when I say: the Lonely Forest, oh what a beautiful way you wasted our time.